Combined shoulder-brace and compressor.



Patentefl Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I m J V E. SCHWEINBURG COMBINED SHOULDER BRACE AND COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.

E. SCHWEINBURG.

COMBINED SHOULDER BRACE AND COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, I9l2.

Pawnted M1127, 1915.

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To all whom-it may concern 7 Be it known that l, EMIL Sonwnmm'mo, a citizen of the Empire of Austria-Hungary, and aresident of New York, in the borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Shoulder-Braces and Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an article of wearing apparel similar to corsets and the like, in that it is adapted to serve as a support for certain parts of the body, but free from the constricting and other objectionable features otsuch devices.

Theobject of my present invention is to provide a garment having more or less the character of acorset. which will elhciently and comfortably support the wearers ahdomen. back, and shoulders, which will reduce the hips and otherwise mold the figure in accordance with the prevailing fashion, but will give the respiratory organs and the waist perfect freedom so that the wearer will be enabled to breathe properly and to walk. ride or stoop with an easy and natural movement.

While my invention is particularly desigied to he used by ladies instead of the customary corset. it may also be made of dimensions to adapt it for the use of adolescents-children, and even men.

In the referred form of my invention, that portion which forms the abdominal support is readily detachable, so that abdominal portions of different sizes or character may be attached to the same device, to meet the requirements of various physical conditions.

Another advantage of my improved supporting'de ice is its ready adjustability at various points so that it will beeasy tp make it conform to any changes which fashion may dictate from time to time.

Other features of my invention will ap pear from the detailed description followin; hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial rear view of a supporting device or garment embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 2 show the garment in position on the wearer's body. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with certain protectors added. Figs. 4 and 5 are face-risers of. these protectors, for

Specification of Letters Patent. watnntedtttpr. 27; 915.;

Application filed March 13, 1912.

Serial lilo. 6%?! 187.

separate or separable main parts, viz.: two

similar back parts it, B, a waist band or girdle G, and an abdominal support- D. Each of the back parts A, B, is here-shown as made of one piece, properly shaped to ward and under the arms, as well'as inthe waist line'and from the arms to the hips, so as to give the respiratory organs perfeet freedom. The back parts may be provided with pockets containing diagonal strips 10 of whalebone, horn, steel or: any other suitable material. Two broader vertical steels 11, 12 are also indicated, these ng contained in" suitable pockets, toserve as additional back supports, blltlilt' will he understood that the arrangement of the steel or other stifieningstrips may be varied, or such stit't'eners may be omittedialtogether, particularly in the styles intendedfor children. At the waist line, each of the parts A and B is provided with a lateral tab or extension 18 having slots 13', through which may be passed the ends of the waistband or girdle t. The waistband is adjustable in any suitable manner, for instance, by appropriate fasteners 14 and 15.. At the side portion a tab 16 (preferably a doubletab) is formed at a point corresponding'to the arm pit, and a button, buckle, hook,

or other separable fastener member" 16' is secured to the tab (between its two layers) to hold adjustably the free end of a shonlder strap 17 which has its other endzattached to the upper'edges of the back part A or ll. Each back part also has another shoulder strap or Suspender band 18, the free lower end of which is adapted to be connected adjustably anddetachably with the girdle C. in any suitable manner, as bv means of a detachable fastener member 19 on the girdle, and a series of mating members .19 on the end of the strap 18.

The girdle (J, which is a separate piece in the preferred embodiment of my invention, will be attached on both sides of the body by passing it through the slots 13 or otherwise, and both ends of the girdle will be tightened at the same time (right and left) so as to assure the proper position of the arment or supporting device in the back. he girdle is not intended however to be drawn tight enough to exert any objectionand placing the buckles or other fasteners between the layers of such double tabs, the fasteners are concealed from view and also prevented from touching and chafing or in- Luring' other garments or pressing on the ody,-and are also (when made of metal) protected against the corrosive action due to perspiration-or heat of the body.

In the-drawing, the abdominal support D consists of se arate pieces attached to the hip portion 0 the arment, but I- do not re} strict myself to this constriction. -The hip portion may be made with gores to receive rubber webbing or other elastic fabric, as indicated at 20. When the abdominal support is separable from the body of the gar ment (and I prefer to make it so), abdominal supports of various styles or shapes may be connected with the same garment body as occasion may require. 'The two parts of the abdominal support will be closed in front with an ordinary steel and clasp arrangement. 21, such as used for corsets, or in any other suitable manner, as with hooks, or eyelets and lacing. The abdominal support may be made with pockets containing whalebone, horn, steel or other stiifeners, as indicated at 22, but such stifieners may be omitted altogether. The side edges of the two parts of the abdominal support D are attached to the body or back parts A, B, in any suitable manner, preferably by means of elastic (rubber) laces 23 pressing through eyelets 24 in the back parts A, B and also through eyelets 25 on the support D. The

eyelets 25 may be placed between two protecting flaps 26,27, so as to protect both the eyelets and the wearers body. Protecting flaps 2G", 27, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be used to protect the eyelets 24. The lacing 28 for connecting the two parts A, B at the back is also preferably elastic (rubber laces) so that the garment will expand or yield in response to the movements of the body during physical exercise or otherwise. In order that the lacing may not inconvenience the wearer or make marks on the body, a protector or to coventhe lacing 28 and both rows of eyelets 30. This protector for which nothing novel "is claimed may be made with a pocket containing a steel or other stiffener, as indicated at 31, so as to give support to the back the full length of the lacing. A similar protector 32, (Fig. 5) stiffened by one or more steels 33, or the like,-if desired, may be placed over the eyelets 30 and the lacing 28 on the outside, as shown in Fig. 3. The

manner of-connecting the protectors with one ofthe back parts A, B, or with both ofthem, may be varied, and the connection may be permanent or separable. In the particular construction shown, separable fasteners 34 of the character of glove-fasteners are em loyed. The inner shield or protector 29 Wil guard against corrosion of the eyelets 30by the warmth or perspiration of the body, while the outer protector will cover and conceal the lacing 28 which will be found a great advantage, especially when light outer garments are worn.

In putting on my improved garment, it is first adjusted over the shoulders, the waist .band or girdle C is attached. and the abdominal support D properly adjusted. The wearer can then lace the garment correctly, and after tightening the laces, it can remain laced for all times without being adjusted again.

The manifold advantages of my support ing garment will be readily understood. It does not exert any detrimental pressure on any part of the body, yet answers all the requirements of a perfectly fitting article. It will give the figure the much-desired straight so-called Grecian line, by inclosing the abdominal parts toward the front, in such a manner that it will properly support the abdomen without interfering with its natural movements, acting at the same time as a hip-reducer. More particularly, no pressure is exerted on the waist, and deep, natural breathing is not impeded. The vav rious parts of the body are given perfect freedom, so that the new garment may be worn with comfort under all sorts of conditions. even when violent exercise is to be indulged in. The garment provides a perfect foundation for the proper fitting of th outer garments-according to the prevailing fashion. and changes in fashion are readily answered by the adjustability of the various parts of the garment. I have mentioned above the advantage of having the abdominal support D separable from the other parts of the garment; this is'of advantage not only as regards meeting the requirements of changing fashions, but such the physical condition of the wearer, for instance, during the period of maternity.

My improved supporting device or garment therefore fulfils all requirements of hygiene, comfort, and fashion. It produces an erect carriage, gives the wearer healthful support combined with freedom of movement and in breathing, and enables outer garments to be fitted to the figure as demanded by the style or fashion which may prevail at the time.

It will, of course, be understood that various modificationsmay be made without departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended aims.

I claim: I

1. A corset substitute comprising two half-back members adapted to .cover the back of the wearer and provided with shoulder straps at their upper ends, with lateral extensions directly. under the ,arms, with lateral hip flaps and with lateral tabs at the waistline, means for connecting said half-back membersalong their. rear edges, and a waistline strap extending across the front and connected with said waistline tabs, said shoulder straps being detachably extensions directly under the arms, withjat eral hip flaps and ,with lateral tabs at the waistline,'means for connecting said halfback members along their'rear edges, and

a waistline strap extending across the front 40 and connected with said waistline tabs, said shoulder straps being divided longitudinally-at their outer ends, parts thereof being detachably connected with said lateral extensions underneath the arms and forming scyes and other parts extending downward in front and being detachably connected with said waist strap.

3. A garment adapted to serve as a substitute for corsets, comprising two connected back parts adapted to extend from the wearers shoulders to'the hips and provided with tabs at the waist-line and under the arms, an adjustable girdle connected with the tabs at the waist-line, adjustable shoulder-straps connected with the tabs under the arms, and an abdominal support extending forwardly from the lower portions of said back parts. v

4. A garment adapted for use as a substitute for corsets, comprising a back memberadapted to extend from the wearers shoulders to the hips and provided with tabs at the waist-line and double tabs under the arms, an adjustable girdle connected with the tabs at the waist-line, shoulderstraps connected with the tabs under the arms between the two layers of such tabs, and an abdominal support extending forwardly from the lower portion of the back member.

lln testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL SCHWEINBURG. Witnesses:

JOHN MURTAGH, M. DORMAN. 

